For Island Graduates, The time of Their Lives

Proud families and friends filled the Tabernacle Sunday afternoon to
honor and support the accomplishments of the Class of 2003 at the
Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.

"This was one of the most beautiful graduations," said
principal Margaret (Peg) Regan. "It's really a community
graduation, an outpouring of the community. Kids down the street showed
up without even knowing a particular graduate. It's
intimate."

Aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins and friends traveled from
Woods Hole, New York, Texas, California and France to be in Oak Bluffs
for the graduation.

Four graduates, Greg Bennett, Mac Schilcher, and Nicholi Sullo,
stood outside the Tabernacle entrance, gowns unzipped and roses in hand.
The roses were for their mothers. Mac Schilcher is going to Wagner
College in New York to play football. He's working for the summer,
but has to be at college by August 10 to start the preseason.

The girls wore white caps and gowns and the boys purple, the school
colors. Some girls wore colorful leis around their necks. Blue and white
collars denoted honors and distinctions.

Sophia Abrams, wearing the blue collar of distinction, said she was
excited to be graduating. Sophia snowboards and will attend the
University of Vermont next year. "I've got to go," she
said as a teacher swooped in - Sophia was the first in line to
graduate.

Richard Steves' two granddaughters were graduated Sunday:
Jennifer Jordan and Stephanie Thibert. Mr. Steves lives in Edgartown and
owned the Menemsha Inn for 20 years. Stephanie will attend college in
Massachusetts and Jennifer is working on-Island this summer as an office
manager for a small firm before heading to Florida State.
Jennifer's brothers, who are eight and nine, sat patiently waiting
for the parties afterwards.

The Tabernacle was surrounded by a tight circle of standing friends
and relatives. There was not a single seat left beneath the colorful
stained-glass windows as the traditional Pomp and Circumstance began the
procession of purple and white.

The Master of Ceremonies, Rodrigo Santos, welcomed the Class of
2003. "Life is extremely short," he told his classmates.
Watching, Mr. Steves shook his head. "These kids don't
understand how fast it goes."

A champagne cork flew into the air from somewhere in the
graduates' seating area, a sign of early celebration.

Emma Gorenberg, the salutatorian, challenged the traditional mindset
of the high school student: just make it through homework, tests and the
end of the school day to reach the weekend, vacation and, finally,
graduation.

"Let us strive to not live towards endpoints," she said.
"We are given the gift of choice, now, to go into the world as
adults and live our lives. Let us choose our path so that we may enjoy
life for what it is today, not what it will be tomorrow."

She concluded, "William Faulkner said: ‘Time is dead as
long as it is being ticked off by little wheels; only when the clock
stops does time come to life.' Class of 2003, we are here. The
clock has stopped."

As the sun emerged in mid-ceremony, jackets were shed in the
audience.

Chelsea Boyd and Jared Stobie received the Vineyarder Awards from
Kriner Cash, superintendent of the Martha's Vineyard school
district. Each student received $1,000. The Vineyarder Award is given to
"those who have come the farthest in their personal and academic
achievements."

Chelsea Boyd, said Mr. Cash, is "a marvelously resilient young
lady who has overcome many barriers. She is a people person, and her
smile lights up any room she walks into.

Jared Stobie is a sports star from punting on the football team for
the past two years to golf, track, and volunteering as a hockey
official. He focused on his schoolwork and excelled in his classes.
"He is highly motivated," said Mr. Cash.

The Superintendent's Outstanding Student Award went to the
valedictorian, Nicholas Turner. "He is the ultimate leader on the
field," Dr. Cash said. "In short, he is a class act."
Not only does Mr. Turner play sports, but he is also is artistically
talented. He surfs, has been active in conservation work and served as
the National Honors Society secretary.

"Nick is the complete package," concluded Mr. Cash.

The chorus, a mixture of members of the graduating class and other
grades, performed Home and the Heartland. Phillip Jordan, an
eight-year-old whose sister was graduating, jumps up with his video
camera to film his sister's singing.

Olivia Lew, Student Faculty Council president, spoke of time and
meaningful moments as her family and friends watched - some of
them had come from as far away as France.

"It's about time," Olivia Lew said -
"4,680 hours, that's 280,000 minutes, which is 16,848,000
seconds. This is also how much time the class of 2003 has spent under
the same roof throughout the past four years."

She quoted John Lennon and Margaret Storm Jameson as she shared high
school moments both intimidating and funny.

"I wanted to say something meaningful today," Miss Lew
said. "What is the meaning of this moment? I don't think
today is an end to the beginning or a beginning to the end or whatever
people may say in graduation speeches. I think of this day as more of a
checkpoint."

"Our time does not stop here," she concluded.
"Each of us has made it, and that is what we are celebrating
today. Congratulations, Class of 2003. You deserve it. Enjoy."

Mr. Turner began by addressing the community: "We have come
together to celebrate the accomplishments of the individuals you will
see cross this stage. Our accomplishments would not have been as great
without the love, care and help of our family, friends, teachers and
each other."

Mr. Turner spoke of knowledge and shared a quote he'd stumbled
upon, "This is what we know. Imagine what we don't."
High school teaches traditional subjects, he said, adding, "But is
this what we really know as Island kids?

"If there is one thing I do know after living on the Vineyard,
it is the beach. I know the feeling of sand in my hair and between my
toes. I know the different scents and tastes of the ocean all 12 months
of the year. I have felt the awesome power of hurricane swells and seen
the beauty of blitzing bluefish. This is what I know.

"I know the love of family, friends, and that of an entire
Island community. I have felt the warmth a local Island smile has to
offer. I know the dedication of teachers both in and out of school,
whose sole desire is to help and inspire others. I have been part of a
community that comes together in times of joy and in times of sorrow. I
know how great it is to feel safe and comfortable wherever I am. This is
what I know."

Mrs. Regan gave her own tribute to the senior class. She spoke of
beginnings and of seeing things in a new way. "A beginner,"
she said, "is accepting life as it is given to you.

"I hope that you will always have beginner's
luck."

The crowd stirred as the graduates stood and began their procession
across the stage, and applause echoed from the Tabernacle roof as each
name was called.

Proud parents lined the stage, waiting to be the first to
congratulate their graduates.

The highlight of the presentation of diplomas was the graduation of
Lesliann Panek, who succeeded in completing four years of high school
even though challenged by cerebral palsy and autism. Lesliann was helped
across the stage by her father as she received a standing ovation.

The Class of 2003 moved their tassels from left to right to
symbolize their graduation, and then the purple and white caps flew high
up into the Tabernacle.

The new graduates filed out of the Tabernacle to the popular song,
Virtual Insanity, by Jamiroquai.

Parents, relatives and friends rushed out of the Tabernacle, cameras
in hand, in search of the new graduates. Graduates meandered through the
crowd, exchanging thanks and congratulations.

Barbara Murphy, a Spanish teacher who is retiring with the Class of
2003, looked for students in the crowd. "I really do feel like a
graduate," she said. "I was a member of the Class of 1964. I
had a lot of these kids' parents as my students."

Marie Villard, a junior, played the flute in the orchestra on this
commencement day. She won't play next year, when she will be among
the graduates herself. Marie said she planned to attend post-graduation
parties later on Sunday. "First there are nice and family-oriented
parties, and then there are ones where everyone gets smashed," she
said.

"But I've got homework and then need to go to bed.
Unlike the graduates, I've got school tomorrow."